Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 15:2

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them , they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

That meek Apostle, who was willing to become all things unto all men, yet here enters into a holy war with them that would introduce circumcision into the Christian Church; because, 1. He would have no works of the Law to be an ingredient into our Salvation; but the free grace of God in Christ to be all in all. 2. That our freedom from all the Coremonial Law, acquired by the death of Christ, might not be diminished. 3. That the spreading of the Gospel might not be hindred, but that Christ might be accepted, and honoured amongst all; now if circumcision had been retained, it would have kept possession for all the other ceremonies to have continued, or re-entred, there being the same reason for the one as for the other; and the circumcised person was obiged by his circumcision to observe them all, Gal. 5.3, 4.

The Church at Antioch, where his controversie was moved.

Iames, Peter, and Iohn, who are thought to have been then at Ierusalem, the rest being probably gone to Preach Christ in other parts.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 2.1.